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June 15 (UPI) — The highly anticipated 2023 U.S. Open is set to kick off in Los Angeles, attracting a star-studded field for what is expected to be a thrilling tournament.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm, and the red-hot Brooks Koepka are among the top contenders for the 123rd edition of this major. Taking place on the North Course at the prestigious Los Angeles Country Club, the tournament will be broadcasted on NBC and USA Network, with streaming available on Peacock.
“To win a championship like this, you need to excel in every aspect of your game,” Rahm emphasized during a news conference on Tuesday. “U.S. Open conditions are unique and cannot be replicated in practice.”
The victor of this 72-hole tournament will walk away with a prize money of $3.15 million. Notably, 77 of the Top-100 golfers in the world, including players like Koepka, 2021 U.S. Open winner, and Rahm, are part of the 156-player field.
Koepka, currently ranked No. 13, has been on a roll this season, achieving a strong second-place finish at the Masters and subsequently clinching the Wanamaker Trophy at the PGA Championship last month. He boasts two U.S. Open titles from 2017 and 2018.
Rahm, who holds the No. 2 position in the rankings, had a more subdued performance at the PGA Championship, finishing tied for 50th place. However, he has proven his U.S. Open prowess by winning the tournament in 2021.
Other contenders for the title include Rory McIlroy (No. 3), Patrick Cantlay (No. 4), and Viktor Hovland (No. 5). The field also features top players like Xander Schauffele (No. 6), Jordan Spieth (No. 10), Cameron Smith (No. 9), Max Homa (No. 7), Collin Morikawa (No. 18), Matt Fitzpatrick (No. 8), Tony Finau (No. 12), and Tyrell Hatton (No. 14).
Fitzpatrick, the defending champion, emerged victorious by just one stroke in a thrilling battle against Scheffler and Will Zalatoris at the 2022 U.S. Open.
The course, located near the Playboy Mansion between Sunset and Santa Monica boulevards, offers a challenging par of 70 with a mix of par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s.
Several players arrived early in Los Angeles this week to familiarize themselves with the course due to its relative novelty. Scheffler, in particular, displayed impressive recall of the 7,421-yard surface.
“I have fond memories of this golf course,” Scheffler remarked. “I remembered most of the holes before we arrived this week, which is unusual for me. It’s a challenging course with a great variety of holes, some requiring aggressive play and others demanding caution. The greens offer a multitude of options. It’s a truly exceptional test.”
According to several golfers, the front nine of the North Course is expected to yield lower scores compared to the back nine. Apart from unfamiliar layouts, players anticipate challenges such as deep roughs and deceptive fairways that appear wider than they actually are.
With dry and sunny weather in the forecast, the course is expected to play firm and fast, resulting in longer tee shots compared to wet conditions.
Aside from the course itself, there are several intriguing group pairings. Koepka from LIV Golf and McIlroy from the PGA Tour will be in the same group for the first time since the rival leagues announced their merger, with McIlroy continuing to voice his criticism of the Saudi-backed series.
“The merger doesn’t concern me,” stated Koepka. “I’m solely focused on this week. I think that’s why I perform well in majors. I’m able to push everything aside.”
Koepka thrives when his competitors are distracted and expects minimal animosity between LIV and PGA Tour players at this third major of the season.
“The more chaotic things get, the easier it becomes for me,” Koepka shared. “Everything starts to slow down, and I can concentrate on whatever I need to while everyone else deals with distractions and worries about other things. I thrive in chaos.”
The tournament will begin with amateur Omar Morales, ranked No. 228, Deon Germishuys (No. 737), and Jacob Solomon (No. 737) teeing off in the first group at 9:45 a.m. EDT on Thursday.
Scheffler, Homa, and Morikawa will tee off at 11:13 a.m. on the same hole, while Rahm, Schauffele, and Hovland will begin their first round at 11:24 a.m. on the 10th hole.
Hideki Matsuyama (No. 26) is scheduled to tee off with McIlroy and Koepka on Thursday at 4:54 p.m. from the first hole. First- and second-round tee times can be found here. The opening round will conclude by 5:27 p.m. at Los Angeles County Club.
Schedule
Thursday
First-round coverage from 9:40 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Peacock, 1 to 8 p.m. on USA Network, and 8 to 11 p.m. on NBC
Friday
Second-round coverage from 9:40 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 8 p.m. on Peacock, 1 to 8 p.m. on USA Network, and 8 to 11 p.m. on NBC
Saturday
Third-round coverage from 1 to 11 p.m. on NBC and 3 to 8 p.m. on Peacock
Sunday
Final-round coverage from noon to 1 p.m. and 2 to 7 p.m. on Peacock, and 1 to 11 p.m. on NBC
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